I was "fixin" on my Cap 232 cowling a couple of nights ago. I had run out of polyester resin but had some kitty hair left over from a car project. I mixed a batch applied it and low and behold it never set up. I stayed about the consistency of cold peanut butter. I even tried a bit of heat to try to kick it into submission without success. So, I scrapped off what I could but am left with the residue to remove. I know it needs to come off or the new will not bond properly. Never had I had this happen to me. I was really bummed!

As anybody had this happen to them? If so what did you use to remove the leftovers. I tried some brake parts cleaner, which wasn't to successful, but I'm thinking acetone might be a better choice.

You can paint polyester resin catalyst with a small brush over the area, it will harden the uncured sticky resin - be generous with the catalyst.

Acetone is good for removal but personally I find the fumes affecting me, even with a proper respirator. Putting acetone down the drain is highly toxic- to overcome thisI always clean my PE resin brushes afterwards (for re-use) with a little laundry washing powder. The "cold water type" work even better. Make half a cup of itintoa paste and paint it on the cowl, keep brushing the paste on for 5 - 10 minutes and rinse off with water while brushing- it will be clean and safe. Works very well..

Use the liquid catalyst you get in the tube for resin. I had the problem with a plane I glassed, turned out the stuff was old and past it's date. There are date codes on the tubes as well as the cans of resin. If you use fresh resin and catalyst it will harden up the remainder of whats on there, that's how I fixed my glass job by recoating everything then sanding my butt off.[:@]